The Idea which became the United States of America was invented in 1776. A country founded on Democracy, where a government chosen by the people, would be led and protected by the very persons they would elect to carry out this important job. Long before this was established, the explorers and settlers left their homelands in Europe and Asia seeking profit and fortunes in a brave new world. They were entrepreneurs and were business oriented as well as trade driven. The concept of “Supply and Demand” was mostly governed by whomever had the needed or wanted product, and at a competitive, but reasonable value of the trade or price. Free Trade contracts and laws that protect consumer’s financial and political interests has always been part the trade system since its inception. Trade and entrepreneurs have always been based on competition. It is what allows this country founded on democracy, to evolve into the economic super power we are today. Ralph W. Emerson supposedly stated: “Build a better mouse trap and the world will lead a path to your door...” But our doors today now have security systems. Antitrust laws, and Freedom of Information Acts that protect consumers and the United States government itself, from the threat and disadvantages trade monopolies present. Monopolies are not a facade in which the government and or large companies use to conceal a corrupted control over information, money, and power. More specifically, they utilize laws to protect the first amendment rights listed in the US Constitution. These Laws exist to prevent such threats from attacking our democracy and the way of doing business in America.
There is no greater commodity in the world today more valuable than Information. People antiqu...
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...nsumers, so does the influence of the information they provide have a negative and positive effects on the society. There are “Illegal” monopolies that threaten democracy, but when these monopolies are identified or uncovered, the threats to democracy are removed by the antitrust laws and acts that were created and implemented to protect it.
Works Cited
Evans, George. "The Father of Tabloid Journalism." Contemporary Review 281.1643 (2002): 372+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 10 Feb. 2014
Associated Press. "Terrorist Use of News Media." Terrorism: Essential Primary Sources.
Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmot Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 433-435. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
"Monopoly." Gale Encyclopedia of American Law. Ed. Donna Batten. 3rd ed. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale, 2010. 109-112. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.
Unfortunately, these monopolies allowed companies to raise prices without consequence, as there was no other source of product for consumers to buy for cheaper. The more competition, the more a company is forced to appeal to the consumer, but monopolies allowed corporations to treat consumers awfully and still receive their business. Trusts were bad for both the consumers and the workers, but without proper representation, they could do nothing. However, with petitions, citizens got the first anti-trust law passed by the not entirely corrupt Congress, called the Sherman Act of 1890. It prevented companies from trade cooperation of any kind, whether good or bad. Most corporate lawyers were able to find loopholes in the law, and it was largely ineffective. Over time, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890, and the previously passed Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, which regulated railroad rates, grew more slightly effective, but it would take more to cripple powerful
Since this debate still rages on, many people argue both sides of the story of the pros and cons. Many would argue that not breaking up monopolies actually increase the competition of companies that are attempting to break into some of the market share that the monopoly already has, more so than the free market that exists now. Proponents of the Sherman Anti-Trust act argue that “absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Martin, 1996) as originally quoted by Baron Acton. The idea that no competition within the business world establishes no risk and reward that is all part of the entrepreneur spirit of the U.S. spirit.
United States has several laws that ensure that competition among businesses flow rely and new competitors get free access to the market. These laws intend to ensure fair and balanced competitive business practices. However, there are times when some businesses will do anything to gain competitive edge. USA has strong antitrust laws that prohibit fixing market price, price discrimination, conspiring boycott, monopolizing, and adopting unfair business practices. The history of Antitrust laws goes back to 1890 when Congress passed Sherman Act. In 1914, Congress passed two more acts: Federal Trade Commission Act, and Clayton Act. With some revisions, these three acts are still core antitrust acts.
Monopoly is not just a game that is occasionally played by dysfunctional families all around the United States. It was an entire era filled with scandal and big business brought on by the industrial revolution and the need to control an entire industry. With the technological advances of that time, it is easy to see just how the “ Big Fish” in the industry were able to control the market and just how that inevitably led to their downfall by a ravishingly bold young president. This slice cut out of the history pie goes to show that too much of a good thing can be very bad for everyone.
The anti-trust laws were set in place to promote vigorous competition but also to protect the consumer from unfair mergers and business practices. The first antitrust law that was passed by Congress is called the Sherman Act and is a “comprehensive charter of economic liberty aimed at preserving free and unfettered competition as the rule of trade” according to www.FTC.gov . Later in 1914 Congress passed two more laws, one creating the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA) and then the Clayton Act, which now create the three core federal antitrust laws that are still active currently. Although they have changed over the last hundred years, they still have the same concept: “to protect the process of competition for the benefit of consumers, making sure there are strong incentives for businesses to operate efficiently, keep prices down, and keep quality up” as stated by the FTC.gov website on The Antitrust Laws.
We all hear the term “monopoly” before. If somebody doesn't apprehend a monopoly is outlined as “The exclusive possession or management of the provision or change a artifact or service.” but a natural monopoly could be a little totally different in which means from its counterpart. during this paper we'll be wanting into the question: whether or not the govt. ought to read telephones, cable, or broadcasting as natural monopolies or not; and may they be regulated or not?
...Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
Monopolies are on the rise and wiping out the small businesses. This is bad news for consumers, because where monopolies are concerned there are also higher prices, limited markets, and the degradation of our economy. Just to add the cherry on top, monopolies are diminishing the labor force, as they use machines to replace their workers.
Due to increasing consumer resentment towards ever-increasing monopolistic industries in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the government formulated antitrust laws to allow for a more competitive market. The legislations prohibit anticompetitive business practices such as price fixing, bid rigging, monopolization, and tying contracts.
I will organise my investigation into 2 separate ideas of how tabloid culture affects the lives of ordinary people. The first part will investigate the idea that we establish societal bonds over injurious information of enemies and high-status people. The second part will investigate the idea that we look at the actions of high-status people in order to clarify the norm.
Today, Americans are evenly divided over if media is bad for democracy or if it promotes democracy. Therefore, statistically media is not good or no bad is in the middle based on the public viewing, but do researchers prove that media is in the middle? Therefore I take my stands to prove that media is bad for democracy using research and data which is provided by various sources.
In 1776, even as Adam Smith was championing the ideals of a free market economy, he recognized that the interests of national security far outweighed the principles of free trade. More then two centuries later, that sentiment proves to still be accurate and in use. Since the early 1900s, the United States has used this precept to defend its position on trade barriers to hostile nations, and through the majority of the century, that predominantly referred to the Soviet Union and its allies.
Monopolies are when there is only one provider of a specific good, which has no alternatives. Monopolies can be either natural or artificial. Some of the natural monopolies a town will see are business such as utilities or for cities like Clarksville with only one, hospitals. With only one hospital and there not being another one for a two hour drive, Clarksville’s hospital has a monopoly on emergency care, because there is not another option for this type of service in the area. Artificial monopolies are created using a variety of means from allowing others to enter the market. Artificial monopolies are generally rare or absent because of anti-trust laws that were designed to prevent this in legitimate businesses. However, while these two are the ends of the spectrum, the majority of businesses wil...
Daniel Bell (1973) coined the expression ‘the post-industrial society’. In this society a substantial proportion of the population are employed or involved in the work of information collection and communication. In this sense we can see that information has become a commodity which can have a value and is therefore marketable. It also can be seen as an indispensable component of our social fabric.
In the world today, information is an important aspect in almost every part of our life. From what time the movie we want to see begins to whether we should buy stock in Dell or IBM, we depend on accurate information. Is this kind of information a commodity? The dictionary defines a commodity as something valuable or useful (Webster 1993). Presently, information is a commodity because people are willing to pay high prices for information in order to make better decisions. In this paper, I will give many examples of how information acts as a commodity. I will also show how information acts as a commodity in other areas than just technology and business.